What am I thankful for? Well, first and foremost, MY FAMILY! My wonderful husband Mark who tolerates everything about me and loves me regardless! And my handsome boys who make me proud on a regular basis!

I am thankful for my jobs. As much as I complain about them, I very much enjoy teaching and truly LOVE The Scrapbook Stand! I am thankful for the support of my family which allows me to do both! I am also thankful for the awesomely talented design team! Their enthusiasm is contagious and their creations out of this world! I also must thank my members! Without them there would be NO "Stand"! I am thankful for the steady growth of my business and pray that I can keep on top of the paperwork and business end. Oh, maybe I should post a January sneak peek! Well, maybe if someone asks...

I am thankful for my home and the health of my family! I pray for those families who lost everything in the last couple of hurricanes. I pray for those friends and families suffering with health issues. I hope and pray for comfort from pain for a warm home for a loving family for refuge and support.

UPDATE>>>>

Well, in my last post I mentioned that my sister in law, Sabrina, announced her engagement. Well, she didn't make it to her wedding date of April 22, 2006! Her and Jussi decided to get married the very next day after the announcement and then had a small church ceremony on Saturday! We found out in a phone call from Sabrina YESTERDAY! Okay so much for making a wedding gift, guess I need to come up with something else...hmmmm...

Happy Thanksgiving! Did you have a great Thanksgiving? I did, well, considering...LOL! We had family come to our house this year and from the sounds of it our house is going to be the yearly location for family gatherings. We had great food and a special announcement, Sabrina announced her engagement to Jussi. They will marry on April 22, 2006! Got to figure out a scrapbook for her, maybe an 8 X 8 album.

I received another awesome gift from my TSS Secret Santa! Today I received those awesome Autumn Leaves stitched rub-ons (2 sets!), bright Junkitz rub-ons, some making memories Gameboard Alphas, and a cute mini stocking! Thank you Secret Santa!

Also put together the December kit! This kit will begin shipping on November 29th!

Last night, rather it was 2:30 this morning, Ryan officially became part of the MVHS varsity soccer team! Ryan is the only sophomore on this team at this huge high school so needless to say, he was a bit worried when heard about initiation given to the rookie players by the veteran players. So come 2:30 this morning 3 cars full of young men pulled up to the house and made their way to Ryan's room where he lay in a state of slumber. Now, as his mother, I felt bad as I had a small part in setting him up, but my guilt did not last long! The young men gathered at Ryan's door and all at once burst in on him under a spot light and video camera wield by a couple of teammates. Ryan's reaction; "What are you all doing here" followed immediately by "Oh CRAP" (I think he actually used another 4-letter word but as his mom I will say he exclaimed in a milder fashion, besides, this is my version of the events). The players proceeded to cover him in a heaping blanket of shaving cream which not only completely covered him but ended up on half of the players since Ryan decided to fight back instead of duck and cover. He was then swept away to participate in the toilet paper decorating of coach's house followed by a team breakfast. I however, spent the next 30 minutes cleaning shaving cream up off the bed, floor, walls, rails, and some guitar equipment. Here is a cleaned up look at Ryan!

Oh my goodness!! This has been one crazy week!! First off, we just finished a fun and exciting cyber crop at the Scrapbook Stand! Congrats to Sri for winning Queen of the Crop!! Thank a look at Sri's gallery!! Tons of RAKs were also given away!!

We will definitely have another crop in December. Stay tuned for details!!

Thursday night we had the pleasure of chatting with Mrs. Christina Cole. She has got to be one of the nicest, most down to Earth people! Check out the chat! She even dropped some hints about her new line!!

An announcement was also made this week! I have added Tracey Odachowski as one of our Design Editors! Thank a look at here fab-tastic gallery! Oh and this girl can sing!!

I am starting to put together the December kit!! Would you like a peek? Here you go!

This kit will also include these:

And if all that is not enough excitement, I received gifts from both of my Secret Santas! From my 2Peas Santa, I received some Halloween chip boards from Lil' Davis and some Sweetwater tags! Awesome!!

From my TSS Santa, I received the awesome new Chatterbox lines, Holiday Lodge and Chalet.

My hidden talent. This is a tough one. Do I have a hidden talent? Not so sure, I asked the boys and they said, "Well, you know sign language and you scrap". Not so sure if that counts. Definitely not a singer unless I am in the car ALONE. LOL! So then what could my hidden talent be? I think this "hidden talent" is even hidden from me! Maybe I have an inner designer with an eye for color, typography, an design. Oh, I know, I have an inner starlet with star quality but no desire for fame.

All kidding aside, I believe my true hidden talent is my parenting style/approach. Now I cannot take all the credit since I have an awesome partner in Mark when it comes to parenting. Are we perfect parents. No! Not even close, but we try to do what is right and best for our kids and out family. We mostly parent by trial and error. We allow our kids to make choices with guidance and hope and pray that we are doing right by them. Both Mark and I came from broken homes. Out marriage has out lasted both of our parents' marriages and is still going strong. So to me, this is special, parenting is my hidden talent.

On a lighter note Christina Cole is coming to The Scrapbook Stand! Be sure to stop by the forum, you can get there by clicking on the lady's paper at The Stand, on Thursday November 17th. She will chat with us around 6 pm PST. Come by early and post your questions for Christina Cole to answer also upload your creations using the November kit to our gallery for Christina to admire and praise. Oh, I am just sooo EXCITED! Also, The Scrapbook Stand is having our first Cyber Cropwith some awesome challenges and tons of prizes on Friday, November 18th ! It is going to be quite a week at The Stand!

Do you feel it? That chill in the air? We will be CHILLing OUT with December's kit!

Have I told you all lately that I have one of the ROCKIneST, TALENTED Design Teams around! I Tell you these ladies have hugo-mongo talent! Take a look at this month's work! November Arts & Styles! Oh and check out their galleries! Brandy, Alexis, Rori, Jen, Ruth, Amy, & Celia, Don't that all just ROCK!!!